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Tehran Hosts Symposium on Knowledge-Based Firms

Tehran Hosts Symposium  on Knowledge-Based Firms
Tehran Hosts Symposium  on Knowledge-Based Firms

Tehran hosted the first symposium of knowledge-based firms and innovation.

Over 1,000 authorities and activists from knowledge-based firms participated in the symposium that opened on Sunday. President Hassan Rouhani and Iran's Vice President for Science and Technology Affairs Sorena Sattari attended the event, along with other officials, IRNA reported.  

A first of its kind, the conference was aimed at developing knowledge-based economy and discourse while assessing the activities of innovative knowledge-based firms that are currently active in Iran.   

During the event, knowledge-based businesses—one of the main pillars of Resistance Economy—were discussed. Resistance Economy is a set of guidelines put forth by the Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to reduce reliance on oil and support domestic industries and production.

Speaking at the event, President Rouhani noted that for a knowledge-based society to function successfully, every decision should be backed with scientific evidence.

"On the contrary, decisions based on feelings, sloganeering and unhealthy competition only result in failure," he said.

"No nation has ever developed or achieved power and wealth without scientific development."

Rouhani noted that fortifying national security, strength and wealth needs to be based on scientific foundations.

Pointing to the success of nuclear negotiations between Iran and P5+1 (the US, Britain, France, China and Russia, plus Germany) the president said developing international discourse can also be achieved if it is science-based.

He added that universities, professors and thinkers in the realms of politics, technical affairs and economics played a major part in the success of the historic nuclear deal.

Rouhani said the post-sanctions era will accommodate research and development projects, the elite and knowledge-based firms.

"We must start technological cooperation with the world and knowledge-based firms can be pioneers in bringing the latest and most innovative technologies to the country," he said.

Detailing the post-sanctions environment and its effects on the academic environment, the president noted that accessing scientific journals as well as certain software and hardware will no longer be a problem because of international restrictions imposed on Iran, as foreign countries will no longer deny sharing their latest technologies with Iran.

Sattari also noted that from the very first day that the Rouhani Administration took office, it has been a proponent of shifting from oil to knowledge-based economy.

He added that "knowledge-based cultural development is needed to create more jobs."

"The future of the country and its industries all depend on knowledge-based economy," the official said, while adding that knowledge-based firms can increase the country's gross domestic product.

Aside from the conference, 20 knowledge-based firms active in the fields of information technology, electronic trade, biotechnology and electronics presented their latest achievements at an exhibition held simultaneously.

Also, a specialized panel was held to assess the problems facing knowledge-based firms.

The Rouhani administration has been a major proponent of knowledge-based economy and has in the past years introduced a number of incentives for knowledge-based firms. These include tax and customs exemptions, starting an Innovation and Prosperity Fund to support knowledge-based companies and extension of cheap loans.

Youths proposing innovative ideas in Iran's booming startup scene have been exempted from the obligatory military service.

Financialtribune.com